Weather delays Jacques return

Persistent rain delayed the return to Yorkshire colours of Phil Jaques when play on the first day of the match with Essex was washed out.

The good news for Yorkshire was that Jaques' registration as a non-overseas player had been cleared at Lord's on Wednesday after the left-hander had met the England and Wales Cricket Board on Monday.

But Yorkshire's director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, admitted that there were now complications in completing the signing of 22-year-old Australia left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc.

It had been hoped that Starc would be available to make his debut against Gloucestershire at Bristol on May 9 but Moxon said he thought that it could now be later than that.

Starc is currently with Australia's squad in the West Indies and injuries to fast bowlers James Pattinson and Ryan Harris are believed to be among the reasons why the signing process is being held up.

Moxon expects that the situation could become much clearer on April 27, which is the last day of the third Test in the Caribbean. Australia by then should have a clearer idea of if and when they should agree to his release.

Jaques, who was a prolific scorer for Yorkshire in 2004-05, said that his registration meant he could not now play cricket in Australia, apart from club cricket.

"It is quite a while now since I played for Yorkshire and I am really excited to get back into it," said Jaques, who has returned to Headingley on a two-year contract.

"There are a lot of good players at the club and I hope that I can help to get Yorkshire back into the First Division of the Championship where they belong."

Jaques said that fellow Australian, Jason Gillespie, now Yorkshire's coach, was "a fantastic fellow who runs a very good ship" and would bring calmness to the squad.

"He was a senior player when I first got into Australia's side and we will be in similar roles now," he said.

Jaques revealed that he was keen to go into coaching once his days as a player were over.